Mobile rock drill rig



Aug. 16, 1960 J. c. c uRTls MOBILE ROCK DRILLl RIGV Filed May 14, 1957Moena noon einer. nio

John C. Curtis, Newport, NH., assigner to Joy Manufacturing Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Filed May`1'4, 1957, Ser.No. 659,158A

12 Claims. {CL Z55- 51) 1956, in which l am a coinventor, now Patent No.l

2,845,251, dated luly 29, 1958, and which is assigned to the sameassignee as the present invention. In this copending application spacedcrawler tread devices have independently pivoted tread frames andseparate drill adjusting means operatively connected to each tread frameand the separate adjusting means are operable in unison for elevatingthe drilling tool. In the structure of the present invention but asingle adjusting device has cooperation through improved connectionswith both tread frames for adjusting the elevation of the drilling tool.Therefore, the present invention contemplates improvements over thestructure of the copending application in that the supporting andelevating sructure for the drilling tool is simplified and is maderelatively rugged, durable and less costly in design.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mobile rockdrill. Another object is to provide an improved rock drill havingimproved supporting and propelling means and improved elevating meansfor the drilling tool operatively associated with the supporting andpropelling means. A further object is to provide an improved mobile rochdrill rig having crawler tread propelling `and steering devices and animproved adjustable supporting structure for a drilling tool operativelyconnected with the crawler tread frames. A still further object is toprovide an improved elevating device for the drilling tool embodying across connecting member extending between and universally pivotallyconnected to the tread frames and having a single elevating deviceoperatively connected to the cross member for elevating the drillingtool. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will,however, hereiuafter more fully appear.

4In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes ofillustration one embodiment which the invention may assume -in practice.

ln these drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a mobile rock drill in which anillustrative embodiment of the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the drill shown in Fig. l, with the upperportion oi the drill guide frame broken away and showing a portion ofthe improved supporting and elevating means.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear end view showing the vcrawler treads movingover uneven ground, with one tread raised higher than -t-heother.

Patented Aug. 16, 1960 Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section taken onlline 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sec-tion showing one of the universalpivotal connections. v

The mobile rock 4drill rig in which the invention is incorporatedgenerally comprises ya mobile base l on which is -adjus-tably mounted asupporting structure 2 for an elongated drill guide trarne 3 along whicha conventional hammer drilling tool 4 is guided for movementlongitudinally therealong, all as is fully disclosed in the abovementioned copending application.

The mobile base l is desirably a crawler base adapted to travel over anuneven ground surface and comprising independently tiltable side trames6 about which endless crawler treads 7 are guided for orbitalcirculation. Convention-al iluid motors, not shown, carried by the Ytread frames as fully disclosed in the above mentioned v boom frame llof inverted 'tl-shape Vhaving side arms or legs 12 and an out-er crossconnecting portion or bar' A1.3, and pivotaliy mounted on an axis E4parallel to` the longitudinal axis of the cross bor, on the outerportion of the irmer hoorn frame, is an outer boom frame l5, the latterforming a continuation of the inner boom frame to provide an elongatedboom structure, the outer end of which may be adjusted through arelatively wide range in vertical planes with resp-ect to the base. Asdisclosed in `the copending application above referred to, pivotatllymounted near the outer portion of the outer boom frame l5, on an axisperpendicular to a line parallel with the boom frame axes ii and 14, isthe elongated guide frame 3 along which the drilling tool i is guided.The drilling tool has a conventional pressure tluid type `hammer motori7 for percussively actuating a drill steel itl carrying a drill bit i9.Conventional huid jacks 2lb and 2l respectively serve to Vswing theouter boom frame l5 about its pivot relative to the inner Vboon". frameand to tilt the guide frame i` laterally about its Vpivot relative tothe outer boom frame.

Now referring to the improved supporting and adjusting structure,generally designated 22, between the tread frames and the inner boomframe, it will be noted that extending transversely between the treadframes near one end thereof is a cross connecting frame 23 hereindesirably of tubular construction and bent or otherwise formed upwardlyto provide side arm portions 24 supporting a raised cross portion 25thereby to provide 4a frame of inverted 4U-shape. These side armportions have universal pivotal connections at 26 with brackets 27suitably secured to or formed at the inner sides of the tread frames,and these universal pivotal connections are desirably in the form ofconventional ball and socket pivots each cornprising a ball portion 28fitted in a spherical socket 29 in the associated bracket. As is Wellknown in the art there is suicient inherent looseness in the pivotaljoints between the several frame parts of a rock drill of the characterdisclosed to allow for limited relative tilting movement of the treadframes up and down and relative tilt of the transverse frame as thedrill rig traverses rough or uneven terrain withou-t undue binding. Whenone tread frame swings about its pivot in a vertical plane the point ofpivotal connection of the cross member with the tread frame will swingin an arc about the point of'pivotalgondesirablyin the form of aconventional double telescopic fluid jack. The pivot 30` allows thefluid -jack to swing laterally. This fluid jack is pivotally connectedat 32 at its upper .end to brackets 33 secured to the cross portion 13of the inner boom frame 11.

The cross connection not only provide a universal pivotal mounting forthe centrally located elevating jack but also serves to tie the. treadframes together at points remote from the boom frame pivots 8` so thatallV of the Vtorsion load is not carried by the inner U-shaped boomframe. Further, by employing the cross connecting frame and the singlecentrally located jack any need for a bypass connection for equalizingfluid pressuresV in the cylinders, such as is disclosed in the copendingapplication above referred to, is avoided. Y

As a result of this invention an improved supporting and adjustingstructure is provided for a rock drilling tool whereby the latter may-be readily adjusted through a wide range of drilling positions. By theprovision of the cross connection between the tread frames the base maytravel over an uneven surface without undue distortion. By universallypivotally connecting the cross connecting frame` with the tread framesand extending the single centrally located jack between this crossconnection and the adjustable boom mounting for the drilling tool theelevating structure for the tool is not only substantially simplifiedbut is also made more rugged and durable in design.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown vfor purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modiiied and embodied in various other forms without.departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a drilling apparatus, a mobile base having spaced apart side.frames carrying ground engaging means yand mounted for independentltilting movement in upright planes to permit said ground engaging meansto travel over an uneven ground surface and adjustable drill supportingstructure, meansy for mounting said side frames for independent tiltingmovements and said drill supporting structure for adjusting movement inVertical planes, a cross connecting frame extending between said sideframes at a point spaced longitudinally of said base from said mountingmeans, means for universally pivotally connecting said cross connectingframe at its ends to said side frames whereby the latter may tilt whileconnectedtransversely by'said crossconnecting frame, and an elevatingdevice connected to said cross. connecting frame and to -said adjustablesupporting structure for adjusting theV latter. on its mounting means onsaid base thereby to Vary the elevation of a drill supported thereby.

2. In a drilling apparatus, a mobile base having spaced apart sideframes carrying ground engaging means and i frames, means foruniversally pivotally connecting'said cross Yconnecting frame'at itsends to said-side frames for 4=--pernt1itting tilt-ingL of the lattervwhile transversely con- ---necting said side frames together, a singleelevating device, andmeans for connecting said elevating device to saidcrossl connecting framerand to vsaid swingable lsupporting structure forswinging the latter on its pivotal mounting on said base thereby to varythe elevation of a drill supported thereby.

3. A drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said crossconnecting frame provides a transverse tie connection between said sideframes irrespective of the relative tilted positions thereof, and saidmeans for pivotally connecting said elevating device tosaid crossconnecting frame engagesthe latter midway between the ends of saidconnecting frame.

4. A drilling apparatus comprising a mobile base having propelling andsteering means including spaced apart side frames having independentrelative movement in vertical planes to permit said propelling andsteering means to travel over an uneven ground surface, a swingable boomstruc-ture for supporting a drilling tool and having spaced sideportions, means for pivotally mounting said side frames for independenttilting movements vand said side portions of said drill supportingboomstructure for .pivotal ymovement on said side frames whereby .said

boom structure may swing in vertical planesavithrespect to said sideframes, a crossconnecting frameextending between said side frames at apoint spaced longitudinally of the base from said mounting vmeans fortransversely connecting said side frames, means for` universallypivotally connecting said cross connecting frame at its ends with saidside frames to permit tilting of the latter while connected transverselyby said cross connecting frame, an extensible power device extendingbetween said cross connecting frame and said boom structure, and

means for connecting said power device to said cross connecting frame ofsaid boom s-tructure for swinging the latter in vertical planes on itspivotal mounting on said base .thereby to vary the elevation of a drillsupported thereby.

5. A drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means forconnecting said power device to said cross connecting frame is pivotallyconnected -to the latter at a point located midway between the universalpivotal connections with said side frames.

6. A drilling apparatus comprising a pair-of spaced apart crawler treaddevices each having a frame tiltable in upright planes relative to theother to permit said crawler tread devices to travel over an unevenground surface, an elongated boom structure for supporting a drillingtool comprising an inverted U -shaped boom frame, means for pivotallymounting said boom. frame at its lower portion at the inner sides ofsaid tread frames of said crawler ltread devices, a cross connectingframe structure for transversely connecting said tread frames, meansproviding universal pivotal connections between said cross Iconnectingframe structure and said .frames of said crawler tread devices at pointsspacedv longi-tudinally of said devices with respect to the pivotalmountings of said boom frame on said frames of said crawlertreaddevices, and adjustable power means connected to Vsaid crossconnecting frame structure and to said boom -frame for swinging thelatter in vertical planes about its pivot to vary the elevation of thedrilling tool supported thereby. j

7. In a drilling apparatus, a mobile base having spaced apart sideframes carrying ground engaging means and mounted for independenttilting movement in upright planes to permit said ground engaging meansto travel over an uneven ground surface, a swingable drill supportingstructure, means for pivotally mounting said drill supporting structureon said side frames with the pivotal axis thereof coincident with thepivotal axes of t-i-lt of said iside frames, said pivotal mounting meansalso providing the pivotal mounting for said side frames, a crossconnecting frame extending between said sideframes at points spacedlongitudinally of said -side lframes from-the pivotal mounting for saidsupporting structure for tying 'said side frames together, means foruniversally pivotally connecting said cross connecting frame to saidside frames to permit tilting of either side frame with respect to theother while said side frames lare tied together transversely by saidcross connecting frame, and elevating means Ifor said drill supportingstructure connected to said cross connecting frame and to saidsupporting structure for swinging the latter on its pivotal mounting tovary the elevation of a drill supported thereby.

8. A drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said crossconnecting frame is of inverted U-shape to provide` increased clearancebetween the upper cross portion thereof Vand the ground surface.

9. A drilling Iapparatus comprising a pair of spaced apart crawler treaddevices each having a frame tiltable in upright planes relative yto theother to permit said crawler tread devices to travel over an unevenground surface, an elongated boom structure, means for pivotallymounting said boom structure on said tread frames to swing in verticalplanes relative thereto, said pivotal mounting also providing the pivotsfor said tread frames, a cross connecting frame structure extendingbetween said tread frames for transversely tying the latter together,means for universally pivotally connecting said cross connecting framestructure at its ends with said tread frames at points spacedlongitudinally of said tread devices with respect to the pivotalmounting of said boom frame on said tread frames, said cross connectingframe structure tying said tread frames together while permittingindependent tilting movement thereof, an extensible power operatedmeans, and means for connecting said power operated means to said crossconnecting frame structure and to said boom structure for swinging thelatter in vertical planes about its pivot to vary the elevation of adrill supported by said boom structure.

10. A drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said crossconnecting frame structure has an elevated transverse upper portion towhich said extensible power operated means is connected to provideincreased ground clearance, said elevated transverse portion beingdisposed a substantial distance above the pivotal connections of saidcross connecting frame structure with said tread frames.

1l. In a drilling apparatus, a mobile base having spaced apart sideframes and ground engaging means carried thereby, said frames fhavingindependent relative tilting movement in upright planes, an elongatedboom pivotally mounted on said base and carrying a drill at its outerportion, said boom comprising a boom frame of inverted U-shape havingits legs spaced apart and extending down along the inner sides of saidside frames, means for pivotally mounting said legs to the inner sidesof said side frames whereby said boom iframe may swing in upright planesabout a horizontal transverse axis to locate the drill in drillingpositions at dierent elevations, said side frames being tiltable asaforesaid about said pivotal connection of said U-shaped boom frametherewith, a rigid cross bar pivotally connected to said side frames andproviding a transverse connection therebetween at a point spacedlongitudinally of said base from said boom frame pivot while permittingsuch relative tilting of said side frames, and an extensible powerdevice connected between said cross bar and the outer portion of saidU-shaped boom frame for swinging the` latter about its pivot.

12. In -a drilling apparatus, a mobile base having a pair of groundengaging traction devices, a drill support pivotally mounted on saidtraction devices to swing in vertical planes relative thereto about atransverse axis, said traction devices swingable up and down in spacedvertical planes about said transverse axis, a rigid cross bar pivotallyconnected to said traction devices for connecting the same togetherwhile permitting up and down swinging movement thereof, said cross barspaced 1ongitudinally of said base from said transverse axis, and anextensible power device connected to said cross bar and to said drillsupport for swinging the latter about its pivot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS298,625 Saunders May 13, 1884 2,135,619 Johnston Nov. 8, 1938 2,217,674Curtis Oct. 15, 1940 2,316,672 Curtis et al. Apr. 13, 1943 2,491,273Lehner Dec. 13, 1949 2,842,340 Burress July 8, 1958 2,845,251 Barton etal. July 29, 1958

